10 Johann Sebastian Bach Pieces with Sheet Music

Are you looking for sheet music to learn pieces by the father of baroque music, Johann Sebastian Bach? Read on to get access to sheet music to 10 iconic pieces by the composer on the Metronaut App.

Bach was born in 1685 in Germany into a family of musicians and composers, which led him to begin his musical education early on, as his family taught him to play various instruments (both string and keyboard) and music theory. He was orphaned when he was only 10 years old, as his mother and father both died within one year of each other. He went on to live with his older brother, organist Johann Christoph Bach, who was a student of Johann Pachelbel!

He began his career with positions all over Germany as an organist, and in 1707, Bach married his second cousin, Maria Barbara Bach, with whom he had seven children who also went on to be musicians and composers. Later, Bach held positions in Weimar and Köthen and continued to develop his musical style as he wrote some of his most notorious secular compositions, such as the "Brandenburg Concertos", the "Inventions", and "The Well-Tempered Clavier". After his wife's death in 1720, Bach remarried with Anna Magdalena Wilcke, a soprano with whom he went on to have 13 children. He then took on his longest and last position in Leipzig, as director of church music. During this period, he composed his most well-known sacred music; for example his numerous cantatas, the "Mass in B minor", and the "St. Matthew Passion". Today, Bach's musical style is characterized by his use of counterpoint (the blending of distinct melodic lines), ornamentations, and surprising dissonance in progressions. Bach died in 1750 from a stroke, but his music has outlived him, cementing his place in history as one of the greatest and most influential musicians of all time. His wide repertoire of over 1000 compositions continues to be performed, studied, and admired around the world.

Amongst all these pieces, it can be difficult to know where to start if you want to learn his music on your instrument. Don't worry! In this article, we've curated 10 pieces, from different works and composed for different instruments, which you can learn to play directly in the Metronaut App with our interactive sheet music. Download the Metronaut App and bring these compositions to life, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, thanks to our various arrangements which adapt to your level. Take advantage of Metronaut’s dynamic accompaniments to get the full experience of playing alongside an orchestra or piano that adapts to your tempo in real time! You'll also find our full collection of Bach sheet music, with many more compositions to explore.

1. Goldberg Variations – Aria

The "Aria" from Bach’s "Goldberg Variations" serves as the foundation for one of the most celebrated works in keyboard music. Composed around 1741, the slow and delicate piece begins and ends the cycle, surrounding 30 variations that explore elaborate counterpoint, virtuosity, and expressive depth based on a common bass line. The work draws its title from its supposed first performer, Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, a pupil of Bach. While the variations have been performed by many renowned pianists, Glenn Gould's interpretation is the most famous.

2. Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565

Bach’s "Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565" is one of the most famous pieces in organ music, which anyone, even those who don't know much about baroque music, will recognize right from its dramatic opening. In fact, in popular culture the piece is often associated to horror and gothic themes. While the toccata section focuses on technical runs, demonstrating dexterity and dramatic flair, the fugue showcases counterpoint by developing interweaving melodic lines. Actually, there is some doubt on the authorship of this piece, which is difficult to confidently trace back, but it is widely attributed to Bach.

3. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

If you want a piece that will cheer you up, what better than "Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring", sometimes just called "Joy". It originates from J.S. Bach's Advent period "Cantata BWV 147", composed in 1723. Arranged for voice and orchestra, the piece has been adapted to various instruments, and is a classic performed at weddings. It features a repetitive triplet rhythm melody, which makes it a great piece to work on steady triple meter, while creating a serene and joyful atmosphere in its key of G major.

4. Invention No.13 in A Minor BWV 784

A staple set of compositions for piano players, Bach's "Two-Part Inventions" are a collection of 15 short contrapuntal keyboard pieces, all in different keys, composed to be exercises for his pupils. Bach also wrote 15 "Three-Part Inventions", also known as sinfonias, with three melodic lines, as their title indicates. This 13th invention in A minor is one of the most well-known, with its expressive quality and interplay between the two voices, which switch off the same rhythm. The inventions are the perfect pieces for keyboard players to practice counterpoint to develop independence in the hands, all while working on musical phrasing to properly interpret the piece. Find the rest of Bach's inventions in Metronaut's full collection of sheet music!

5. Air on the G string

"Air on the G String" is a popular arrangement of the second movement from Johann Sebastian Bach’s "Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major". Its title originates from german violinist August Wilhelmj's transcription for violin, which is arranged so that the first violin's part is played entirely on the G string. This piece is most appreciated for its serene and flowing melody, which has made it prominent at weddings as well as in pop culture, most often in films.

6. Violin Concerto No.1 in A Minor BWV 1041 – 1. Allegro

The "Violin Concerto No.1 in A Minor BWV 1041" is an essential of the baroque violin repertoire. The first movement, "Allegro", is marked by its energetic and driving rhythm, with a lively interplay between the solo violin and the accompanying string ensemble. The main theme alternates with virtuosic solo passages, to showcase the violin's expressive and technical range, which is highlighted throughout the rest of the concerto.

7. Flute Sonata No.2 in E♭ Major BWV 1031 – 2. Siciliano

Composed for flute accompanied by harpsichord, J.S. Bach’s "Flute Sonata No.2 in E♭ Major BWV 1031", is a work attributed to Bach, though some debate that it might have been composed by his son who was also a composer, Carl Philipp Emanuel. The second movement, "Siciliano", is the most popular movement of the three, with a gente rhythm written in 6/8 time. A siciliano form is typical in baroque music to convey a pastoral mood, featuring triple meter and dotted rhythms. The gentle melody of the flute creates a delicate atmosphere, perfect for its expressive depth and beauty. No need to be a flutist to learn this piece: have a look at our sheet music arrangements for your instrument in the Metronaut App.

8. The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 BWV 847 – 1. Prelude No.2 in C Minor

Composed as part of his iconic collection of pieces in all 24 major and minor keys, "The Well-Tempered Clavier", this prelude in C minor features a continuous sixteenth-note pattern that drives forward with consistency and increasing intensity. The hypnotic harmonic structure plays with dissonance to create a sense of tension and resolution throughout. Despite its rhythmic simplicity, managing to perform the whole piece throughout while keeping the sixteenth-notes constant is a real challenge. "The Well-Tempered Clavier" is written in two books, consisting of Preludes and Fugues in each key, and is an essential work for keyboard players. Learn to play this energetic piece or have a look at more preludes and fugues in Metronaut's Well-Temper Clavier sheet music collection!

9. Suite No.2 BWV 1067 – 7. Badinerie

The "Badinerie" is the lively and playful final movement of the "Orchestral Suite No.2 in B Minor", composed for flute. The title "badinerie" comes from the French word "badiner", meaning "to play", capturing the movement's playful and lighthearted character. In fact, the badinerie closely resembles a scherzo. This piece showcases the energetic virtuosity of the flute soloist, making it a favorite among flutists.

10. Cello Suite No.1 in G Major BWV 1007 – 1. Prelude

Finally, one of the most iconic solo pieces for cello is the prelude from J.S. Bach's first cello suite. With an equally recognizable opening as the "Toccata and Fugue", this piece opens the suite with a smooth, legato stream of arpeggio chords, creating a flowing atmosphere. Throughout, the piece increases in intensity and slight dissonance, before resolving in a satisfactory and triumphant cadence. Though not the most technically complex cello suite Bach composed, its simplicity conveys its own depth of calming expression.

Check out our entire catalogue of Johann Sebastian Bach Sheet Music for more pieces to learn and perform with accompaniments with the Metronaut App! For more baroque music, check out sheet music by his similar composers from the same era: Antonio Vivaldi, Georg Friedrich Händel, and Georg Philipp Telemann